NRI woman gets US tech award

An Indian American has become the first person of Indian origin to win the Engelberger Robots Award for Technology Development this year.

Bala Krishnamurthy, founder and CEO of Aeolean Inc., was honoured at an international symposium on robotics in Chicago Wednesday.

Krishnamurthy is credited with developing robotic systems ranging from hydraulic manipulators for the auto manufacturing industry to mobile sensate robots for commercial use. The tech expert, a postgraduate in both applied mathematics and computer science, has also published several papers on robotics, India West, a well known ethnic Indian weekly, said.

The award, internationally recognised as the Olympic gold medal in the field of industrial robotics, is presented by the Robotic Industries Association (RIA) for excellence in technology development, application, education, and leadership in the robotics industry.

Founded in 1974, the RIA is the only trade group in the US that promotes the robotics industry.

Krishnamurthy's firm provides for the design and development of safety and mission-critical systems relying on robotic automation.